„All right, son,” he said, turning to Alexei, „now you’re on your feet, you’re a complete man, so…” He glanced quickly at Irina, then back at his son, „you’ll buy me some furniture.”
„Yes, of course,” Alexei replied immediately.
When Tatyana Yakovlevna heard him, she smiled broadly, patted him on the shoulder, and left the apartment satisfied.
Galina followed her obediently like a puppy.
As soon as the door closed, Irina turned to her husband and asked, irritated,
„Why did you tell your mother you put money in the apartment?”
„Don’t be angry,” Alexei replied in a soft voice.
„If I hadn’t said so, she would have had no respect for me anymore.”
„And after all, what difference does it make who gave the money?”
„It’s our apartment; we’re a family.”
„Yes, a family,” Irina admitted, „but lying still isn’t the solution.”
„Don’t get upset.” Alexei approached and hugged her.
„And what furniture was your mother talking about? Explain it to me, please.”
„What furniture?” Irina repeated, looking him in the eye.
Alexei sighed deeply, sat down on the sofa, and pulled her toward him.
„Mom wants me to buy her some new furniture for the living room.”
„She said the old ones are quite dated, and since we’ve already had ‘a great success,’ I have to help her.”
„And you just… promised her?”
„I didn’t mean to upset her, Irina…”
„You know her well…”
„If I’d said ‘I can’t,’ she would have started again with: ‘What kind of man are you?’ ‘How do you respect your mother?’…”
„I didn’t feel like facing him.”
„I just said that to put her mind at ease.”
Irina stood up and paced the room.
„Okay. But you know what?”
„This time you don’t have to stay quiet and always say ‘yes’ to everything.”
„You have a family now. Me, you, and, who knows, maybe someone else soon.”
„I know… you’re right,” Alexei replied, a little guilty.
„I understand that she’s your mother and that you love her.”
„But we’re not a bank.”
„Neither you nor I.”
„This apartment wasn’t paid for with a fuss.”
„Irina, I promise I won’t make decisions alone anymore.”
„And as for the furniture…”
„Maybe I’ll just buy her a new sofa and a table, something more modest.”
„No,” Irina’s voice became firm, „you won’t buy her anything.”
„Tell her nicely that’s not possible now.”
„This is our home, and we don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”
„If she loves you, she’ll respect you even without furniture.”
Alexis looked at her for a moment, then raised his hands in surrender:
„All right.”
„You’re right.”
„There’s no point starting our life here with lies and debts.”
That evening, after unpacking some boxes and putting away the most important things, Irina made tea.
They both sat on the carpet, cups in hand, watching the city lights filter through the still-curtainless window.
„You know what?” she said, smiling slightly. „I think we’re fine this way.”
„It’s our beginning.”
„With all the boxes, the tiredness, and the lack of furniture.”
„Yes, that’s us,” he replied, pulling her closer. „And tomorrow I’ll tell my mother.”
„No beating around the bush.”
„I’ll tell her the truth.”
„That the apartment is yours and that you paid for everything.”
„She shouldn’t know everything.”
„Just so she doesn’t think you’re a millionaire giving away money at random.”
„You’re right.”
„I’ll clarify everything tomorrow.”
The next morning, Alexei called his mother.
„Mom, about the furniture…”
„I can’t now.”
„We still have a lot to do, and we can’t afford it financially.”
„But you promised me!” he immediately got angry. „Are you just talking for the sake of talking?”
„Mom, I said what you wanted to hear to avoid arguments.”
„But the reality is different.”
„I didn’t buy the apartment.”
„It belongs to Irina.”
„Her father gave it to her.”
“I didn’t put in a cent.”
“And, honestly, I’m not ashamed of it.”
“I have a wife who supports me.”
“This is family.”
There was a long pause.
“I understand…” Tatiana Yakovlevna finally said in a soft voice. “You shouldn’t have hidden it from me.”
“Perhaps.”
“But you shouldn’t have put so much pressure on me, either.”
“All right, kid.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’ll manage somehow.”
“I appreciate it.”
“And when we’re on our own two feet, I’ll gladly help you.”
“But not because you ask, but because I want to.”
“Right,” she said, and the sincerity was evident in her voice.
Three weeks later, the apartment was fully furnished.
One Saturday afternoon, the three of them—Alexandre, Irina, and her mother—were sitting at the table, eating homemade cake and drinking hot tea.
„You know, I like being at your place.”
„It’s warm.”
„It’s… home,” said Tatiana, looking around.
„And you haven’t mentioned furniture anymore!” Irina laughed.
„Well… I know when to stop.”
„I see you’re a team.”
„And the truth is, I’m proud of you.”
Irina and Alexandre exchanged a knowing smile.
„Thanks, Mom.”
„Maybe one day you’ll actually have new furniture, who knows…”
„Never mind, darling, I’ve grown fond of my old sofa. It’s…
and his stories.”
The three of them laughed.
Outside, the sun was beginning to set again, casting warm reflections on the walls.
And in that moment, everyone knew one thing for sure: a family isn’t built with money or furniture.
It’s built on trust, patience, and… truth.
„And now?” Alexei asked.
„Now?” Irina replied. „Let’s put on some music, open a bottle of wine, and dance among the remaining boxes.”
„It’s our night.” Alexei smiled.
„Yes. It’s our life. And it’s just beginning.”